Friction shock absorbing mechanism



May 31, 1932. s. B. HASELTIE FRICTION SHOCK ABSORBING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 1, 1929V n 2 Sheets-Sheet l SuNN -Mayl, 1932. s, B. HAsELTlNE FRICTION SHOCK ABSORBING MECHANISM 2 Sheecs-Sheerl 2 Filed Aug. 1, 1929 f wf ff 4f WM5 J5d f4 p Patented May 31,1932

Ystasera ralrrasnmnmoncnmaeo; ILLrnois, Assieiion To W. H; Minna, inc or rnrorion snoei;r ensorelline@l nnen-Nien Appiieatin ined August 1, '19295 Seriana, 382,771.

This invention relateslto improvements in friction shock absorbing' mechanisms.

One object of the invention is to provide-a friction shook absorbing mechanismV includ? ging front' andi rear follower-acting members' relativelymovablewith respeetztoy each otlis er; a friction*member having' restricted movement witherespect to one of sai-rd follow-y .erf members andlimited to lessthan the full* ment Vof said frictionY means andthe coop kerating fol-lower member g.- friction elements Vmovable with respect to thefricti'onmeanfs' anclactnated bythe other follower member,

o movement of said friction elements being reg sisted by said spring means; andladchtional springmeaiis resistingrelative movement ofV saidV follower membersT- thereby providing graduated vrspringA action produced by clom pression of said lastnamed and first named spring resistance means successively,V fol-l lowed by heavier friction resistance diie to l relative: sliding movement of theV friction means friction elements..

vide a friction shook absorbingfvmeehanism inelnding a friction oasing'ffriotion .elements Y having. sliding movementmith respect tothe casing,` said elements including ai wedge member; spring resistance means opposing relative movement oftlie friction means and l casingtr'a. manJ-fOllOWeQsaid follower and' Y, casing being relatively movabletoward and away from each other and said follower benormally spaced from the wedge means; i spring resistance means opposing relative movement of the casing and followergand anchoringrneans for :the Vfollower limiti-ng relative separation 'of the same and the cas'` 111g.. Y f ,i n p A. farther object'of the inventionis-to provide ja' friction shoclrabsorbing mechanism including a spring cage; a friction; shell, saidf f5 shell and cage fhavingrelative movement restricted to less than the" full compression stroke yofY the mechanism; )friction means movable with respect to the'shell after movement'of the flatter; has been arrested; ya main ,50' follower movable 'with respect' tof-the spring .cnnipressionstroke of 'the mechanism spring resistance means opposing relative moveshell and yspring cage, relative movement of A fiirtherobject of the invention is to pro# which iss-*restricted to' less than the fiill coni also opposing inward movement 'of the fricr; f Other objects ofthe invention will more tudinal sectionaly view thronghtheiinder-y -u cageI for actu-ating said friction means means for anchoring thegfollower to limit outwardV movement thereofwith respect to the spring` cage ;`v spring resistancemeans opposing rela;-

tive@ movement of the friction shelland kspring cage andalso opposing movement; of

tliefriction elements; "and spring resistance means opposing yrelative movement of the;- main follower and friction shell, the main` follower being normally spaced vfrom the i friction. means whereby said last named. spring resistance `is compressed during the first part of the compression stroke, followed successively by 'compression of said first named spring to the extent of relative movel` ment vof the shell and cage, and relative sliding movement ofl thefriction means and elements to provide for graduated spring action to absorb the lighter sliocks'-'and heavier fric;`

tionalresistance to! absorb the ultim-ate heavy-v 70 Snoeks. Y Y f f s A still further object of the invention is to provide a friction shock absorbing mechamsm including a relatively. movable friction pression stroke Yof the mechanism; friction shoes cooperating with vthe friction shell; 'a wedge fmeinber having wedging engagement with the shoes; a 'inain follower normally spaced from the wedge member, said main follower and cage being relatively movable; spring resistance nieanswithin the cage opposing inward movement "of theshellv and tion shoes rwithrespecttothe shell; spring resistance means opposing relative movefy lmentof the 'friction shell and main follower;

means for anchoring the wedge) to the shell toliold the same ,assembled therewith and limit outward movement thereof; and anchoring meansfor holding the main follower assembled with Vthe cage and limiting relative separation thereof. f f

claims yhereinafter following.l l l y In the'drawingsfforming aA part'ofthis Y specification, Figurel is a horizontal, longi'R clearly appear lfrom the description and stop lugs 12--12.

frame structure of a railway car illustrating my improvements Vin connection therewith. Figures 2 and 3 are vertical, transverse sectional vlews corresponding respectively to the lines 2-2 and 3%3 of Figure 1. And Figure 4 is a vertical, longitudinal, sectional view of the front end portion of my improvedshock absorbingmechanism, corresponding substantially to the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

In said drawings, -10 indicate channelshaped center or draft sills of the railway car underframe, to the inner sides of which are secured front stop lugs 11-11 and rear The inner end portion of the coupler shank is designated by 13 and a hooded yoke 14 of well known form is operatively connected to the coupler shank. My improved shock absorbing mechanism is disposed within theyoke, and the yoke in turn is supported by a detachable saddle plate 15 secured'to the bottom flanges of the draft sills 10.

My improved shock absorbing mechanism comprises broadly a springv cage A; a friction shell B; a pair of friction shoes D and E; a wedge F; a main follower member G; a main spring resistance H; a preliminary spring resist-ance J g a spring follower M;

i and aretainer bolt N.

The spring cage A is in the form of a rectangular box-like casing having spaced longitudinally extending side walls 16-16; horizontally disposed spaced top and bottom walls 17-17 and a transverse vertical rear end wall 18 co-operating with the stop lugs 12 in the manner of the usual rear follower. At the forward end, the side walls 16 of the casing are provided with inturned vertical flangesV 19-19 and the top and bottom Walls 174-17 are-cut away rearwardly of said flanges as indicated at A 20-29 to provide to and bottom openings to permit assembling of the spring follower and friction shell with the cage. The side walls of the cage are provided with interior guide ribsk -21-21 at the forward ends thereof, theguide ribs being spaced inwardly from the flanges 19 as clearly shown in Figure 1, the

- -f spacing being less than that of the front end edges of the walls 17 with respect to the flanges 19.

The friction shell B is also preferably in the form of a substantially box-like member 1 and is 4provided with laterally extending side flanges 22-22 at the inner en d thereof which are disposed in back of the flanges 19 of the spring cage A. The friction shell has longitudinally extending side walls' 23--23 of substantially V-shape section and horizontally disposed connecting top and bottom walls 2li-24. The side walls 23 present V- sha e interior friction surfaces 25-7-25 exten ing'lengthwise of the shell. As most clearly shownin Figure 1, the V-shaped friction surfaces 25 converge inwardly of the mechanism. The top and bottom walls of the friction shell are provided-with interior retaining lugs 26-26 at the forward end thereof which cooperate with the wedge block F in a manner hereinafter pointed out. to hold the wedge assembled with the shell.

The friction shoes D and E are of similar design except as hereinafter pointed out. Each shoe has a V-shaped outer friction surface 27 which cooperates ywith the friction surface 25 at the corresponding side of the shell B. On the inner'side each shoe is provided with a lateral enlargement 28 having a wedge face at the forward side thereof, the wedgeV face of the shoe D being indicated by 29 andthe wedge face of the shoe E being' indicated by 30. As shown, the wedge face 30 of the shoe E is inclined at a keener angle withrespect to the longitudinal axis of the mechanism than the wedge face 29 of the shoe D. The wedge face 30 is preferably disposed at a keen-acting wedging angle, while the wedge face 29 is disposed at a relatively blunt releasing angle. The wedge faces 29 and 30 of the shoes are also of V-shaped section as most clearly shown in Figure 2.

The wedge F is in the form of a block and 'has a convex outer end face y31 adapted to cooperate with the main follower member G. At the inner end of the block F is provided with wedge vfaces 129 and 130 on the opposite sides thereof cooperating respectively with the wedge faces 29 and 30 of the shoes D `and E and correspondingly inclinedthereto. .The wedge faces 129 and 130 are also of V-shaped section so as to properly cooperates with the wedge faces of the shoes. As will be evident, the inter-engaging V-shaped faces of the wedge, shoes, and shell preventV relative vertical displacement of these members with respect to each other, thereby holding the same out of contact with the top and bottom walls ofthe shell. As clearly shown in Figure 2, the wedge and shoesare spaced from the top and bottom shell walls. At the forward end, the wedge is cut away at the top and bottom sides as shown in Figures 2 and 3, thereby providing transverse retaining shoulders 32-32, which cooperate with the lugs 26 of the shell B to hold the wedge assembled therewith and limit its outward movement. e

The mainffollower G is in the form of a substantially rectangular -heavy plate-like member cooperating with the front stop lugs 11 of the railway draft rigging. On the inner side, the main follower member G is provided with top and bottom pockets 35i-3? at oppositesides thereof adapted to form seats for the front end portions of the elements of the preliminary spring resistance J,

The main spring resistance H includes a central. spring memberand four additional springtmembers disposed about the same, the

les

vIU

recano Y vlast Anamed spring members'rheing ,arranged in' the four corners of the spring cage A. The ccntralfgspring-member. of the springre sistance -H Vcomprises a-.relatively light in# ner coil and a heavier outer coil., All of the f members of themain springresistance bear directlyV on theen'd V.Wall 18; ofthe spring cage andewith theeXception of the inner coil of the central springfmem-ber have their frontends bearing directly on the spring folf lower M Thespringfollower M is in the form of a plate-like member and is interposed between the inner end; of the' friction. -shellB fand. the spring resistance As shown inlFigures l and 2, thespring follower'M is notched at opposite sides as indicated at 34-34 to receive the guide ribs lof theV cage; As Ywill be evident, the spring follower is thus guided by the ribs 2l during movement lengthwisek ofthevcage. i At the forward side ythe spring follower .is provided with a rectangular bosslilremember 35 which 'engagesy within the innerend of the frictionshell in the normal fullr release position Vof the parts, therebyjine` venting accidental vertical displacement of the shellwith respect to the cageand locking the ,same` in assembledV relation with the latl ter. The spring follower is furthery provided with a central opening 40 fora purpose here;

inafter pointed ont.. n Y Theprelmnnary spring resistance J comprises four relatively light coils arranged 1n airs. at on iosite sides vof theV4 friction shellv P i l i Band interposed between the flanges 22 of of the yshelland the main follower G. 'The frontendsofthe coils of the springsrd. are

seated. in the pockets BSfprovided in the main followerV G. Y p flanges 19 of the spring ,cage A are cnt awayas indicated at 39?39130 provide clearance for tlie'inner ends of the coils of the spring resistance J. .Y

The retainer bolt N has theY front end thereof anchored to the mainfollower Gr, the

follower being providedV with. a. pocketA 36 adapted to Vaoconomodate the nut of the bolt.

The shank of the .bolt extends-through alined openings in the'main follower G and wedge block F. The inner end 0f the bolt is headed as indicated at 37 and a spring-washer or thimble 3811's connected theretothehead. of the bolt being accommodated within the thimble,-ztheylatter bearing on ythe enlarge- Y mentsQS ofthe Vfriction shoesD and E. The

retainer bolt issoadjnsted thatthe prelimt,V

nary spring resistance J yisnnder initial compression, thereby compensating for wear ofk the cooperating wedge faces of r`the .wedge block and shoes and thecooperating friction surfaces of the shoes and friction shell. p The thimble 38 extends into the opening l0 of they spring follower, is freely ymovable therein and bears directly on thel front end `of the inner coilofthe central spring member.

As shown 'in Figure 2, rthe Vance .elements of the sistanceJ are then AsshoWn zinfFigiire @moet clearly,'the

vspringfollower YM is'V ,of such a 'height that it ,will ,pass freely-into` the spring cage-be l tween fthe'top andrbottom walls thereof, while the :friotionshell4 is of such a-heightthat the inner endfof the same, will engage-the front.`

edges ofthe top andbottomv walls ofthe; springcage after-@a certain amount'of compressioni -of the'mechanism to arrest `Inove-V ment'of the friction shell with respect tothe cage. In orderwto allow the unobstructed inwardsmovement ofthe friction shell,v the flangesy 22 thereof are notched rat opposite sidesA sol as to olearthe guide ribsV 2l ofthe:

spring cage..` Y-

.Infassembling my `:improved shock absorbing mechanism, the 'Wedge and"friction'shoesV are inserted'f within the friction vshell so vthat the shoulders' of the wedge engage in back of Vthe shell shoulders, and theretainer boltY and thimble arepla-ced inpositionwith the head of the --bolt seated' inthe thimble Aand the shan-lr extending through the wedge, and

the parts are then assembled with the spring cage inf-tbeffollowingmanner: The spring re-k c s istance His first inserted in the spring cage through the'open front-end thereof,"and'the spring follower is thenqassembledwith the cageKV by inserting-the same laterally'between theiliangesl) and thefront end ledge of 'th'e top yvallll Thezspringfollower is 'then forced iinwardly to a 'sufficient extent that the boss 35 thereof will clearthe inner end of thevk friction she-lland thimble while being assembled with Ythe cage.l The shell withthe wedge, shoes, thimble y'and retainer bolt as-v sembledl therewithV is theny attached tothe cage by insertingthe flanges 22thereof 'laterallybetween theflangesllland the front endredgevofk the top-.wally 17" of 'the 'cagelf After the shellfhasfbeen :brought into proper horizontal position, the springfollower Mr sion, the former holding the spring follower engaged :with the inner end of Ythe friction shell andthe latterholding the frictionshoes in contact with the wedge bloc-k and friction surfaces jvof the shell. -Inasmuch'as the inner Coil ofthe centralmember of the spring H directly engagesthe thimblei andis prefs` erably under` initial at all `times holds Vthe friction fshoes in inticompression, Y the same Inate [Contact with, the wedge faces ofV the shoes and friction-surfaces of the compensating for wear thereof.A`

'The operation `of my. improved shock ab-r shell, thus.

sorbing mechanism during either a draft or bung action is as follows: rIhe main follower G and spring cage A will be moved relatively inwardly toward each other, thereby compressing the-preliminary spring resistance J during the initial portion of the compression stroke. During this time the friction shell will be held in its outermost posi- Y, tion Lby the action of the main spring resistance H which is of lconsiderably greater capacity than the spring resistance J.

During the continued inward movement of themain follower with respect to the spring cage, the former will come into'engagement with the wedge block F, causing they latterr to move inwardly toward the spring cage in unison therewith. Due to the frictional resistance between the friction shoes and the wedge and between the shoes andthe shell,

the latter will be forced inwardly in'V unison with the main follower G, thereby `carrying the spring follower M and-spring cap 38 inwardly also and compressing the main spring y resistance H. In this connection, it is pointed out thatthe enlargement at the front side of the spring follower bears on the innerl endsof the friction shoes', thereby 'assuring that the shoes and shell will move inwardly in unison. The movement of the friction shell inwardly of the cage with the main follower G will continue until the shellengages the front end edges of the top and bottom walls'17 of the cage whereupon relative movementof the shell and cage will be arrested, f thereby compellingT the friction shoes to more inwardly7 on the friction surfaces of the shell. During the inward movement of the friction shoes with respect to the shell, the main spring resistance H will be further compressed. It

" should also benoted that the four coils of the preliminary spring resistance J will also be further compressed during this stage of the operation. Inward movement' of the c main follower is finally limited by engagefriction shell and friction shoes outwardly` until movement of the shell is limited by engagement with the flanges 19 of the cage. Movement of the shoes outwardly with respect to the shell will be limited by engagement of the shoulders of the wedge block with the lugs 26 of the friction shell. During outward movement of the shell, the spring re-y sistance J will be forced outwardlyv also and due to the expansion of the spring resistance J the main follower G will be forced outwardly until movement thereof is limited by thcretainer bolt N. In this position of the parts, the main follower is spaced from the frontend of the wedge block as clearly shown in Figure 1.

From the preceding description taken in connection with the drawings, it will be evident that I have provided an exceedingly simple and efficient friction shock absorbing mechanism having two stages of graduated spring action followed by heavy friction resistance, thereby particularly adapting the device for passenger equipment. It is further pointed out that have provided an exceedingly' simple and eiiicient means for anchoring the main follower to the friction shock absorbing mechanism proper and that the inner coil of the central member of the spring resistance in addition to serving as shock absorbing means also performs the important function of compensating for wear of the various friction wedge faces of the mechanism by forcibly holding the friction shoesalfways in contact with the wedge block and friction shell.

I have herein shown and described what I now Aconsider the preferred manner of carrying out my invention, but the same is merely illustrative and I contemplate all changes and modifications that come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

y l. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, thecombination with a spring cage; of a friction shell, said shelland cage being i relatively movable, said movement of the cage and shell' being limited to less than the full compression stroke of the mechanism; friction elements having sliding engagement with the shell; spreading means cooperating with the friction elements spring resistance means opposing,r relative movement of the shell and cage, said spring resistance also opposing relative movement of the shell and friction elements a main follower normally spaced from the spreading member, said shell and main follower being relatively movable toward and away from eac-li other; spring Y resistance means reacting between and having its opposite ends buttressed on the main follower andfriction shell, respectively, and opposing relative movement of the shell and follower; and means for limiting longitudinal separation of the friction shell and follower.

2. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism,'the combination with a. spring cage; of a friction shell, said shell and rcage being relatively movable, relative movement of said cage and shell being limited to less than the full compression stroke of the mechanism; friction shoes cooperating with the friction shell; a wedge cooperating with the shoes; spring resistance means opposing relative movement of the shell and cage, said spring resistance yalso opposing relative movement of the shell and shoes; a mainfoll'ower normally spaced from Vthe wedgel member, said main follower and spring cage being relatively movable; means for anchoring the wedge to the casing; spring resistance means abutting the main followerandshell and opposing relative movement thereof; and means connectedfto the main follower and having engagement with the shoes for anchoring the Y fol-lower to the friction shell and limiting relative separation of the same. l

3. In a friction shock absorbing kmechanism, the combination with relatively mov# able main follower members; of a friction shell movable with respect to one of said follower members to an extent less than the full `compression stroke of the mechanism; friction means cooperating with the shell and `movable with respect to the same; spring rev sistan'ce means opposing relative movement of theshell and last named follower member f and also opposingrelative movement of the Y shell and the friction/means; and additional spring means of lesser capacity interposed Y `between said shell'and the other follower Y member directly opposing relative movement thereof and normally holding saidV follower spaced from the friction means a distance less than the full l'compression stroke of the mechanism to provide for preliminary light Y.

Y resistance during relative approach of said follower and friction means.

, 4. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with relatively mov-y able front and rear followers; of `a friction shell movable with respect to said rea-r follower to an extent less than the full compression stroke of the mechanism, said shell y having spring abutment flanges at the inner end thereof; means normally spaced from and actuated by the frontV follower having frictional engagement with the shell and mov# able relatively thereto lengthwise of the mechanism; spring resistance means having V the rear end thereof buttressed against said Y,

rear follower and the front ,endbuttressed against the friction shell and friction shoes, said spring opposingk relative movement of the friction Shell and said rear follower7 and movement of the friction shoes with respect Vto the shell; and kan vadditional springref sistance means interposed between and buttressed at opposite ends against said abutment iianges and front follower,y respectively,` and opposing relative approach of the front follower and friction shell toward each other lengthwise of the mechanism. Y e

In witness that I claim the'foregoing I have f hereunto subscribed my name this 29th day 6' of July, 1929. A y l f lSTACY B. HASELTINE-n 

